Sample Projects for Interns

Epidemiology

1. Research the association between individual social determinants of health and health outcomes, and the geographic distribution using statistical analyses and GIS.
2. Analyze behavioral risk factor surveillance system results for 2008 on "Reactions to Race" and "Social Context." OMHPHP and partners had 2 modules added to the survey ("reactions to race" and "social context"). Results would be analyzed to determine responses based on race/ethnicity and SES. Analysis would be conducted to determine association between responses within each module and behavioral and risk factor responses. Additional analyses would be based on intern's interests.
3. Determine healthcare and related costs associated with preterm birth and/or low birth weight in Commonwealth and how those costs are distributed geographically in association with area-based distribution of social determinants of health.

---

Minority Health and Health Equity

1. Develop a program for and coordinate the heritage month programs.
2. Develop surveys for following up with Unnatural Causes initiatives.
3. Assist in the coordination of town hall meetings.
4. Help develop a revised Health Equity Report. In coordination with other programs that produce periodic health status reports, this internship would focus on determining a complementary format of the Health Equity Report that would track progress in the elimination of key indicators of health equity and associated social determinants.
5. Assist the development and implementation of an internal VDH steering committee to internalize a commitment to health equity within the agency.
6. Develop and administer survey of stakeholder groups regarding their understanding of health inequities and support for efforts to eliminate them. 

---

Policy

1. Track general assembly activities.
2. Develop procedures for an interagency work group on healthy public policy.
3. Develop procedures and supporting documents for conducting health impact assessments.

---

Public Health Communications and Marketing

1. Develop and update constituency lists.
2. Update the Community Grant Funding Opportunities guide. [Current Community Grant Funding Opportunities Guide]
3. Work with programs to evaluate and revise existing content, develop new content and a publishing schedule that will include a variety of vehicles.

---

Shortage Designations

1. Assist in validating the existence of primary care, mental health and dental clinic sites within a service area by conducting phone interviews with clinic administrative staff to determine available clinic hours per practitioner and the percentage of low income Medicaid patients served. 
2. Conducts analyses to evaluates the type and availability of health professionals, namely primary care physicians, dentists and psychiatrists, in various health care service areas throughout the Commonwealth.  Opportunities exist to develop and/or enhance proficiency with mapping/GIS applications and gain experience using the federal Application Submission and Processing System (ASAPS), which is the HRSA Shortage Designation Branch’s online shortage designations interface.

---

Workforce and Rural Health

1. Explore the developmental rural health care student associations and/or interest groups.
2. Develop a comprehensive listing of Virginia's Rural Health stakeholders.
3. Update listing of residency or other advanced training programs that focus on rural health.
4. Research student/resident training program funding opportunities.
5. Identify past award recipients and recruit them to be ambassadors for the incentive programs. Develop an online press kit.
6. Update list of rural hospitals.
7. Establishing a list of eligible National Health Service Corp Program practice sites in Virginia.

Subscribe in a reader

---